Review Blog

Sep 20 2008

Bunker 10 by J A Henderson

Oxford University Press, 2007.
(Age 10 +) Highly Recommended. Seven teenagers have been sent to live
on
a military base, apparently because of their superior intelligence,
although none of them seem to know quite why they are there. All are
about to be annihilated in a huge explosion on Christmas Eve - and this
story is the countdown to their destruction.

Cheerful stuff! The uncompromising bleakness and violence in Bunker 10
is shocking enough, but hovering above it is the stark suggestion that
these are not actually real children, but extremely sophisticated
computer programmes.

Simulations are a specialty of this military base and it appears that a
team of intelligence experts have been sent into the base to test the
ultimate in simulation - computer programmes that can think and act
independently and who believe themselves to be real human beings.

There is so much double crossing and ducking and diving that you have
to really concentrate while reading Bunker 10, but this
outstanding
book more than repays the effort. On one level there is enough tactical
action to satisfy the most ardent paint-ball fanatic. The speed of
action is breathtaking with plenty of shooting and gore. On another
level I found the whole story quite unsettling. We know simulations are
an important element of the plot and I spent the entire book wondering
whether the children were real or not and whether the massive explosion
(we are told at the start there are no survivors) would really happen.

J A Henderson is a master. His use of the 'countdown' (each section
starts with the time, adding to the sense of urgency) builds the
tension until you are racing through, desperate to find out what
happens. There are some great touches of humour - I loved the reference
to Star Trek. Characterisation of all seven children is engaging -
their idiosyncrasies add to both the realism and the humour and while
the plot is wildly beyond the realms of reality (I hope!) who cares?
This is a fantastic story which should impress the boys. Quick J A
Henderson, write another one!
Claire Larson